In the boundless void of the universe, a colossal ship shimmering with silver radiance was gliding forward.
Though massive, it could in a blink travel astonishingly far in a single stride.
This kind of speed—across the entire galaxy, there were hardly any warships that could compare.
"This is our company's newest technology. At full output, the ship's cruising speed can, to a certain degree, rival the Star Rail of the Trailblaze AEON."
Inside the ship, a woman in the uniform of the Interastral Peace Company was speaking smoothly to Hoshigaki Sora.
Only... whether Sora himself could hear her clearly at this moment was questionable.
"What are you all doing? Let me go!"
"Hey, Robin, help me out here!"
The scene before them was a noisy one—because right now, Sora was surrounded on all sides.
One was offering him water, another massaging his back, yet another adjusting the music system of the cabin.
To anyone ignorant of the truth, it would look exactly like the entourage of some nouveau riche traveling in style.
But sadly, this was no lavish outing.
It was forced execution—on Sora.
Robin, the one Sora had called for, shifted herself subtly aside the instant his eyes turned her way.
Not my business. Don't look at me. Whatever it is, it's all on you, Sora.
Watching this ridiculous display, even the Company rep's lips twitched against her will.
Only after the medical diagnostics came back clear did Sora finally wriggle free from the Cavalry's "care."
But by then, he was already left a little drained.
"Sorry you had to watch such a farce." Sora gave the rep an awkward smile. "They're just... too worried about my condition, that's all."
"That's a good thing. It shows you're dearly loved in their hearts."
The representative was a woman with pale-blue skin. She continued, introducing the ship's features to Sora.
But Sora only half-listened.
"To a certain degree rival the Trailblaze AEON's Star Rail"—exactly what degree, that was the real question.
And besides, this speed only came with full power output of all the ship's energy reserves.
Sora skimmed the energy parameters: at most, it could last a few days like that.
Galactic travel was measured in light-years. A few days of this "sprint"—it could very well break down in the middle of nowhere.
While the Trailblaze AEON's Star Rail... so long as it was primed, could warp instantly.
So yes—marketing wordplay. Only by pushing the ship to its absolute limits could it sustain such bursts of speed.
And sure enough, Sora spotted a small line in the ship's manual:
[Warning: Prolonged operation at full power may cause irreversible damage to the vessel. Use with caution.]
Seeing that tiny note, Sora couldn't help but chuckle.
So this ship was mostly a marketing gimmick.
"Anna really got swindled on this one." Sora shook his head.
The rep's heart leapt into her throat at that expression.
If Sora wasn't satisfied, her commission would vanish into smoke.
"Sora-san, um, your evaluation of our service would be...?"
She asked nervously, hoping for his judgment.
Sora, seeing her expression, understood immediately.
He had worked before—he knew well the kinds of worries weighing on her.
"Keep it. I'm very satisfied with this ship."
Sora signed his name on the delivery contract.
The vessel was large—large enough for the Iron Cavalry to roam freely.
Since their creation, Serus had locked them to that planet. This was their very first time traveling so far.
And after everything they'd gone through, let this ship mark a new beginning—the symbol of their rebirth.
Even if overpriced, there were some things credits could never buy.
"Thank you, Sora-san, for your support of the Interastral Peace Company." The rep exhaled with relief.
She pulled out her comm terminal. "Sora-san, please add my contact. I'll be your personal specialist for all matters concerning this ship."
"I'll keep an eighteen-hour daily online window, ready to handle anything this ship might encounter."
Sora exchanged contacts with her.
[IPC P24 · Felice]
"So Miss Felice, thank you for making the trip."
"Not at all. You're a major client of our Company. This is only our duty."
Felice transferred the ship's control permissions to him.
"It also has autonomous operating AI. Allow me to guide you through authentication."
After completing the certifications with her, the ship was, in truth, his.
Sora held the recognition key in his hand, a little dazed.
I really... own a ship in this universe now. Strange feeling.
Though... could this key be broken?
The thought sprang unbidden into his head as he turned it over.
He quickly crushed the impulse.
No way he'd risk breaking his ship's key.
[Incoming transmission. Caller ID: Anna Bergalo. Confirm connection?]
The ship's chime pulled him from his thoughts.
Anna? Already?
He'd been planning to call her first—but she had beaten him to it.
"Confirm connection."
At his word, a blue holographic projection lit up before him.
It was Anna.
"Anna, long time no see."
Sora greeted her with a smile. It had indeed been a long time.
Their last messages had been back in Zieltworth.
But after chaos engulfed that world, all communication was cut off. Contact with the outside had vanished.
The instant Anna's projection appeared, she rushed close, scanning him up and down.
Only when she confirmed he was unharmed did she let out a deep sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness I saw the order status update. Otherwise, I would've missed it."
When the order notification pinged her terminal, she had immediately fired off the comm request.
And now—at last—she could see him again.
"I heard Zieltworth severed all comms... Sora, are you really all right?"
Her voice was heavy with concern.
She had carefully planned to send him there for treatment.
Who could have foreseen that right after, Zieltworth would cut contact with the entire cosmos?
When she heard, her heart had practically stopped.
She had even thought of rallying the Guardian Deity and personally crossing the galaxy in search of him.
But in the end, her parents and Ouja had stopped her.
Now, seeing Sora safe, her heart eased.
"Me? I'm great. Thanks for the ship you sent, by the way."
Sora grinned. "It's pretty cool. Fits my taste perfectly."
Anna smiled too.
He hadn't changed at all. Still the same Sora.
"As long as you like it, it wasn't bought in vain."
Then she asked about what had happened there.
Zieltworth's sudden blackout had shaken the galaxy.
The planet had been a sanctuary for countless nobles and elites seeking treatment.
Its disappearance sent hearts into panic across the stars.
Some factions had even put out bounties—tens of thousands of credits just for reliable intel on the planet's condition.
And if someone could retrieve specific individuals from there? Even more credits.
Zieltworth's clientele was powerful enough to command the galaxy's attention.
So Sora recounted his experiences, keeping it short.
He carefully omitted all matters related to the AEONS.
In this universe, anything touching AEONS demanded caution.
Sometimes, ignorance itself was protection.
Anna fell silent. She gazed at him a long time before whispering:
"Is it just my imagination... or is it that wherever you go, something like this happens?"
Zieltworth had run peacefully for centuries. Then Sora arrived—and turmoil broke out.
When he came to her planet, it had been on the brink of disaster too.
Once could be chalked up to coincidence. Twice in a row... was that really believable?
Twice, planets nearly destroyed. In the galaxy, that probability was one in millions.
"You're framing me!" Sora immediately defended himself.
How could this be pinned on him? It was Serus's fault entirely!
But as he rambled—"I'm innocent," "planets splitting in half had nothing to do with me"—Anna only listened in silence.
Still—his body was healthy. That much mattered.
"Since you've been through all this... why not take a proper rest?"
Anna smiled gently. "When you come back, I'll give you a welcome you won't forget."
"Deal. And when I do, I'll introduce you to some new friends."
Let Hotaru and the rest see what a real natural wonder looked like.
Surely, they would be delighted.
"New... friends?"
After the call ended, Anna murmured to herself.
Who...?